835 Second St, Santa Rosa CA
(707) 542-5800
Parking: small parking lot, street parking
http://www.cabianca.com/
Hours: Lunch Mon-Fri 11am-2:30pm, Dinner Weeknights 5pm to 9pm, Dinner Weekends 5pm-10pm
Last Visited: October 31, 2009
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 4 to 5 stars
Price: $$$ to $$$$
Built in 1876, the white house in which Ca'Bianca is located is a historic site. Recently renovated, it has a cozy feel of the old world with cuisine that blends various areas of Italy including Milano and Sicilia.
Our visit was particularly festive since the waitstaff were dressed in their Halloween garb - there's nothing like a server with a Jason mask or blood dripping from her neck to make you a bit more alert to the service. The dim lighting would probably typically be called romantic, but it fits well into the Halloween theme too.
- Fitto Misto - Crispy calamari and shrimp, although the portion was a bit small. $10
- Lamb chops - Very nicely done and juicy. $23
- Venison - Tender meat without any gaminess. The sides, including potatoes and veggies, petite, but the overall dish is filling. $26
I appreciated the attention to detail of the wait staff and their friendliness as they welcomed us to Ca'Bianca and served us through the evening. From the menu to the quaint feel of the restaurant's atmosphere to the furnishings, it's definitely exudes more of a classic feel. This is a great restaurant for a fancy dinner for a subdued crowd or romantic night out.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013
Chang Puak (White Elephant) - Thai, Noodles, South San Francisco
146 Hazelwood Drive, South San Francisco CA 94080
(650) 873-8341
Parking: limited street parking
Hours: Mon-Sat: 11-3pm, 5-9pm, Sun: 5-9pm
http://www.whiteelephantssf.com
Last Visited: April 6, 2013
Food: 4 stars (if not for the contaminant)
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $ to $$
Chang (Thai for elephant) Puak (white) is located in a small strip mall across the street from Smart and Final. While it's a pretty small place, they have really tried to load it with character in terms of decor and in flavors. This family-owned business shows a lot of care in explaining food to its patrons - for those who might find the yellow curry to be too yellow, or the sauce to be different from what they expect, the wait staff takes the time to come and explain that the food is from the Northern region, which is atypical of what is found at many Bay Area Thai restaurants.
- Beef Tendon Stew - One of the specials for the evening - the beef was tender and there was a nice peanut flavor throughout the broth. It's a little reminscent of five spice beef stew noodles. However, when I was dividing the egg noodles, I found a hair. I have to give them a hand for how they handled it though - they immediately apologized, took the dish away, brought me a new bowl, and didn't charge me a thing. I've found hair in a number of my dishes, and this was by far handled in a way that tops the list in terms of customer service (way better than my experience at Morimoto Napa and John Ash in Santa Rosa). Good job Chuang Puak! The noodle soup/stew was also really good - perfect for cold weather. $9.25
- Green Curry with Pork - One thing I noticed is that Chuang Puak's prices might be a dollar more than other Thai places, but the portions are also slightly larger. This curry was a bit different than some of the other green curry that I've tried - it doesn't seem to have coconut milk in it. The pork was tender and the sauce goes well over rice. I also liked the eggplant and how it soaked up the sauce. Good. $8.25
- Pad Thai with Prawns - One of my primary complaints when eating Thai is that places often skimp on the shrimp. Here, they give you eight prawns which is often double of what you find at other places. Standard ingredients like egg, bean sprouts, and green onions make are served with the al dente noodles. $9.25
- Rice $2
A little different flavors than the typical Thai restaurant, Chang Puak is worth trying out. Since they handled the contaminant incident so well, and the flavors were good, I would be willing to return to see how their other dishes fare. Note that the restaurant is a bit small and tends to get packed on weekend evenings, so eat early or eat late to avoid the crowds.
(650) 873-8341
Parking: limited street parking
Hours: Mon-Sat: 11-3pm, 5-9pm, Sun: 5-9pm
http://www.whiteelephantssf.com
Last Visited: April 6, 2013
Food: 4 stars (if not for the contaminant)
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $ to $$
Chang (Thai for elephant) Puak (white) is located in a small strip mall across the street from Smart and Final. While it's a pretty small place, they have really tried to load it with character in terms of decor and in flavors. This family-owned business shows a lot of care in explaining food to its patrons - for those who might find the yellow curry to be too yellow, or the sauce to be different from what they expect, the wait staff takes the time to come and explain that the food is from the Northern region, which is atypical of what is found at many Bay Area Thai restaurants.
- Beef Tendon Stew - One of the specials for the evening - the beef was tender and there was a nice peanut flavor throughout the broth. It's a little reminscent of five spice beef stew noodles. However, when I was dividing the egg noodles, I found a hair. I have to give them a hand for how they handled it though - they immediately apologized, took the dish away, brought me a new bowl, and didn't charge me a thing. I've found hair in a number of my dishes, and this was by far handled in a way that tops the list in terms of customer service (way better than my experience at Morimoto Napa and John Ash in Santa Rosa). Good job Chuang Puak! The noodle soup/stew was also really good - perfect for cold weather. $9.25
- Green Curry with Pork - One thing I noticed is that Chuang Puak's prices might be a dollar more than other Thai places, but the portions are also slightly larger. This curry was a bit different than some of the other green curry that I've tried - it doesn't seem to have coconut milk in it. The pork was tender and the sauce goes well over rice. I also liked the eggplant and how it soaked up the sauce. Good. $8.25
- Rice $2
A little different flavors than the typical Thai restaurant, Chang Puak is worth trying out. Since they handled the contaminant incident so well, and the flavors were good, I would be willing to return to see how their other dishes fare. Note that the restaurant is a bit small and tends to get packed on weekend evenings, so eat early or eat late to avoid the crowds.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Ramen Parlor - San Mateo, Japanese
901 S B St, San Mateo CA 94401
(650) 344-9728
Parking: small parking lot, street parking
Hours: Tues-Sun 11:30am - 2pm, 5:30pm - 9pm
Last Visited: August 25, 2013
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$
We arrived about ten minutes before Ramen Parlor opened for dinner and found ourselves in the line that had already formed. The restaurant is owned by the same folks as Ramen Dojo on the next block and often gets spillover from them as well. Ramen Parlor is more spacious than its sister restaurant and by opening time, there were plenty more folks behind us. We managed to secure a table, but service could have been better.
While we were waiting in line, the folks in front of us had already started having their orders taken, and by the time the server was about to approach us, the restaurant had already opened. After being seated, everyone waited about five minutes before glasses of water were provided to all of the tables. Even after that, we were still waiting for the menu, and when the server saw me looking at him as he was ready to take the order for the table next to us, he commented that he would be right with us and didn't seem to notice that we had still not received menus until I said something. Upon receiving the menu, he came by again within just a couple of minutes to take the order - definitely room for improvement in terms of how to improve timing of service.
All ramen is available non-spicy, mild spicy, regular spicy, and extra spicy. It probably took fifteen minutes for the ramen to arrive.
- Parlor Ramen - Lobster Pork Flavor with kikurage mushrooms. The menu describes it as lobster enhanced broth with fried soft shell crab (half), roasted pork (2 pieces), mizuna (aka Japanese mustard/California peppergrass), and roasted seaweed (2 pieces). I ordered the broth mild spicy, and though it wasn't too spicy at all, I couldn't taste much of the lobster flavor. The noodles were good and the ingredients tasted fresh. The soft shell crab was very good - crispy and light - and I wouldn't mind paying a little more for a whole one. Good. $9.75
My dining companion had the garlic lobster pork flavor ramen. The broth comes out black, but I heard multiple people at the tables surrounding us also commenting that the garlic lobster pork broth was delicious. If I came back, I would probably try this instead.
The ramen is good (but for me, it wasn't wow) and the menu has a lot of variety - classic ramen with an egg, specialties like curry ramen, Japanese curry over rice, and a number of appetizers like skewers.
The atmosphere is very casual and the windows bring in a lot of natural light. One thing they do well is separate those whom are waiting from those whom are eating. However, the tables are a little too close - you can easily get to know your neighbor if you wish, and it's super easy to get bumped or to bump someone getting in and out of your seat. It's a family friendly place - there were lots of little kids dining there this evening. And while service is pleasant, their timing could be improved. Ramen Parlor offers a solid ramen, but the lobster enhancement could be enhanced more.
(650) 344-9728
Parking: small parking lot, street parking
Hours: Tues-Sun 11:30am - 2pm, 5:30pm - 9pm
Last Visited: August 25, 2013
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$
We arrived about ten minutes before Ramen Parlor opened for dinner and found ourselves in the line that had already formed. The restaurant is owned by the same folks as Ramen Dojo on the next block and often gets spillover from them as well. Ramen Parlor is more spacious than its sister restaurant and by opening time, there were plenty more folks behind us. We managed to secure a table, but service could have been better.
While we were waiting in line, the folks in front of us had already started having their orders taken, and by the time the server was about to approach us, the restaurant had already opened. After being seated, everyone waited about five minutes before glasses of water were provided to all of the tables. Even after that, we were still waiting for the menu, and when the server saw me looking at him as he was ready to take the order for the table next to us, he commented that he would be right with us and didn't seem to notice that we had still not received menus until I said something. Upon receiving the menu, he came by again within just a couple of minutes to take the order - definitely room for improvement in terms of how to improve timing of service.
All ramen is available non-spicy, mild spicy, regular spicy, and extra spicy. It probably took fifteen minutes for the ramen to arrive.
- Parlor Ramen - Lobster Pork Flavor with kikurage mushrooms. The menu describes it as lobster enhanced broth with fried soft shell crab (half), roasted pork (2 pieces), mizuna (aka Japanese mustard/California peppergrass), and roasted seaweed (2 pieces). I ordered the broth mild spicy, and though it wasn't too spicy at all, I couldn't taste much of the lobster flavor. The noodles were good and the ingredients tasted fresh. The soft shell crab was very good - crispy and light - and I wouldn't mind paying a little more for a whole one. Good. $9.75My dining companion had the garlic lobster pork flavor ramen. The broth comes out black, but I heard multiple people at the tables surrounding us also commenting that the garlic lobster pork broth was delicious. If I came back, I would probably try this instead.
The ramen is good (but for me, it wasn't wow) and the menu has a lot of variety - classic ramen with an egg, specialties like curry ramen, Japanese curry over rice, and a number of appetizers like skewers.
The atmosphere is very casual and the windows bring in a lot of natural light. One thing they do well is separate those whom are waiting from those whom are eating. However, the tables are a little too close - you can easily get to know your neighbor if you wish, and it's super easy to get bumped or to bump someone getting in and out of your seat. It's a family friendly place - there were lots of little kids dining there this evening. And while service is pleasant, their timing could be improved. Ramen Parlor offers a solid ramen, but the lobster enhancement could be enhanced more.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Piccino Cafe - Italian, San Francisco
1001 Minnesota St, San Francisco CA 94107(415) 824-4224
Parking: street parking
Hours: Tues-Sun 11am-10pm, Closed Mondays
http://www.piccinocafe.com/
Last Visited: April 27, 2013
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$$
Lee recommended Piccino as a great place for dinner, so I went to check it out with the girls. We wanted to try a variety of dishes, and since the pizza was highlighted by multiple people, I made sure we tried it.
When we got to Piccino, it was just starting to fill up for dinner, and before long, the whole place had filled up. Reservations aren't required, but if you have a larger party, there are a limited number of tables for large groups, so reserve ahead.
The decor is rustic with wood tables and floors. The chairs are modest and the large table in the center had a display of lemons. The bar on the side remained busy through the evening, and the large number of windows bring in a lot of natural light.
- Salad - Asparagus, burrata, heirloom polenta, watercress, salsa verde - I didn't know what heirloom polenta was and asked the hostess whom explained that the polenta is made in an old way and that it tasted good. So with that recommendations, I ordered it and it was delicious. If you like fried tofu, it's quite reminiscent of that - crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. This is probably amongst the best polenta that I've had. While the asparagus was tender, it may have been better if it was baby asparagus. The burrata was soft and paired with the salsa verde, the flavors were quite good. However, the watercress was a bit disappointing - these large leaves and stems were a little tough and would have been better left off the plate. Great polenta and burrata - I would have been happy with double the amount of those items only. $13
- Potato Gnocchi - octopus, pepperoncino, marinara - The marinara was really tasty and the gnocchi was tender. I really liked the sauce with the spiciness coming from the pepperoncino and the sweetness from the tomatoes (San Marzano probably), but the portion was minuscule. The octopus was just okay - I wouldn't have missed it if it was gone. $13
- Pizze Funghi - Roasted mushrooms, stracchino, shaved garlic - Mushrooms are roasted, run through a food processor, and spread over the pizza along with the cheese. Garlic slices and parsley are sprinkled on top of the pizza. The mushroom flavor is pretty intense and complements the cheese well. The texture and presentations of the ground mushrooms may not be for everyone - I personally prefer to have them sliced. The pizza has a very thin crust, and overall, it's pretty good - crispy crust all the way around with little brown bubbles on the edges. $16- Pizze Salsiccia - Housemade sausage, mozzarella, red onion - The sausage is broken into pieces and sliced red onions and parsley are sprinkled on top. I preferred this flavor profile better, but the sausage could have been spread out more evenly across the entire pizza. The crust on this pizza was equally thin and delicious. Good. $15
- Zeppole - Vanilla Bean Crema, Berry Marmelatta - Five zeppole are served in a bowl with a sweet berries over a dollop of crema on the side. The zeppole are lighter than a donut, but denser than a cream puff. The color of the zeppole was a beautiful golden brown and each had been rolled in sugar. I actually liked the zeppole without the crema which was nicely infused with vanilla beans, but too thick in texture - more like frosting and too viscous. The berries are a nice balance with their sweetness and tartness. $7While service is good for the most part, I found that some of the servers lacked warmth and when we were deciding on a dessert, the server seemed a bit impatient. The hostess on the other hand is very friendly and perhaps that contrast makes the other server appear even less friendly.
Other offerings for the evening included cod, lamb, and pork and beef polpette. Serving sizes are on the smaller side, so if you like to try multiple dishes, you'll definitely be able to do so, but it makes sharing a little difficult. Ingredients are fresh, but if the watercress and asparagus had been a little younger, they could have been five star dishes. Piccino has solid offerings overall.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Amami - Sushi/Japanese, San Bruno
1789 El Camino Real, San Bruno CA 94066
(650) 872-2218
Parking: small private parking lot, street parking, public parking lot close by
Hours: Tues-Sun 5pm to Midnight
Last Visited: August 11, 2013
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$$
I first heard about Amami through Rayfil's social media post of Amami's oyster special and nigiri sushi which had an amazingly large portion of fish. I had been asking people for sushi recommendations in the South San Francisco and San Bruno area, and this was the first time I had heard a peep out of anyone about a good place, so of course I had to check it out.
Enter the restaurant and the waiting area takes up about a quarter of the room. Behind the sushi bar and above the hostess stand are large televisions playing everything from Food Network programs to America's Got Talent (at least that was what was on during this evening). Pop music plays on the sound system. The sushi bar serves mostly parties of 3 or less and the tables seem to be reserved for parties of four or more. I arrived about 5:45pm on a Sunday night and put my name on the waiting list for two. We were quoted over an hour wait, and that was pretty accurate - the place had just filled up and there were about four parties of two before ours. While I tried to circumvent the wait by trying to order take-out, I was quoted an hour wait for that too. A tip for you if you decide to go - make reservations. Even if you make a reservation, there is still a wait time of about 20 minutes.
- Oyster Special - 2 servings come with each order. A soup spoon holds a small oyster, salmon roe, tobiko, uni, quail egg, and green onion. Enjoy it all in one bite and you'll get the flavors of the sea - the fresh oyster, the saltiness from the roe, and the silkiness of the uni. The quail egg is creamy and smooth and the green onion gives it just a little crunch and kick. This is definitely worth trying. If the presentation had been a little neater and had the two servings looked more alike, it would have gotten a solid four stars. $8
- Sushi Regular - 7 pieces of sushi are served with a California Roll and miso soup. The miso soup is on the sweeter side than what I usually get at other sushi places and it contained sliced mushrooms, green onions, tofu, and seaweed. The sushi included hamaichi, salmon, two types of tuna, and mackerel. All the fish was very fresh and the portions were quite large, but the fish tended to be quite wet - the excess moisture seemed to make the flavor of the fish slightly less intense and sweet - almost diluted. It's still good, but if you're accustomed to dry pieces or slightly denser texture, then you may find this isn't quite as authentic.
- Sushi Deluxe - 9 pieces of sushi are served with a rock n' roll and miso soup. The same varieties of fish that are in the Sushi Regular are included here also. The additional sushi was scallop and shrimp. We also received one bonus piece of fish as well.
While a ten piece omakase is available, by the time we were seated, they had run out. Other offerings include udon noodles, tonkatsu,ramen, teriyaki and many rolls. Based upon the way the miso soup was served with additional ingredients (many Chinese people often comment on how miso soup doesn't have anything in it), and the way that they serve their dishes (larger portions versus high end presentation), it feels like Amami is catering to the Chinese audience.
Chef owner Alan is friendly and works quickly preparing nigiri and sashimi behind the sushi bar. Formerly with Sushi Raw in San Francisco, you can see how he has taken some of his roots with him in terms of how he generously serves fish portions. His younger brother makes most of the rolls. We noticed that Chef Alan frequently gives away extras - extra piece of fish here and there, especially as things run out - for example, there was no more ocean trout available for the party of three whom ordered it, so he asked them if they wanted to order something else and gave them a complimentary third piece of nigiri when they made their second choice. Uni also ran out this evening, and it was barely 8pm.
A few things would make this restaurant even better. While it's high on value, Amami needs to work on cleanliness. I feel comfortable about the fish preparation because you just can't serve bad fish and manage to survive without any bashing. However, after waiting an hour in their waiting area and seeing the wrappers and toothpicks on the floor less than an hour into service, I can see that there is room for improvement. It was pretty apparent that the toothpicks had spilled some time ago as you could see some peeking out from under the host stand. When I was at the bar, I also noticed some chopstick wrappers that had been stuck between the refrigerator and edge of the bar. Last, but certainly not least are the curtains covering the kitchen opening - they're desperately in need of being washed. Just cleaning up these few items would really help people feel more comfortable with the cleanliness of the entire operations.
Overall, Amami offers a good variety of dishes, large portions for a reasonable price, and the quality is ok. However, if you're a traditional sushi enthusiast, it may not meet your standards.
(650) 872-2218
Parking: small private parking lot, street parking, public parking lot close by
Hours: Tues-Sun 5pm to Midnight
Last Visited: August 11, 2013
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$$
I first heard about Amami through Rayfil's social media post of Amami's oyster special and nigiri sushi which had an amazingly large portion of fish. I had been asking people for sushi recommendations in the South San Francisco and San Bruno area, and this was the first time I had heard a peep out of anyone about a good place, so of course I had to check it out.
Enter the restaurant and the waiting area takes up about a quarter of the room. Behind the sushi bar and above the hostess stand are large televisions playing everything from Food Network programs to America's Got Talent (at least that was what was on during this evening). Pop music plays on the sound system. The sushi bar serves mostly parties of 3 or less and the tables seem to be reserved for parties of four or more. I arrived about 5:45pm on a Sunday night and put my name on the waiting list for two. We were quoted over an hour wait, and that was pretty accurate - the place had just filled up and there were about four parties of two before ours. While I tried to circumvent the wait by trying to order take-out, I was quoted an hour wait for that too. A tip for you if you decide to go - make reservations. Even if you make a reservation, there is still a wait time of about 20 minutes.
- Oyster Special - 2 servings come with each order. A soup spoon holds a small oyster, salmon roe, tobiko, uni, quail egg, and green onion. Enjoy it all in one bite and you'll get the flavors of the sea - the fresh oyster, the saltiness from the roe, and the silkiness of the uni. The quail egg is creamy and smooth and the green onion gives it just a little crunch and kick. This is definitely worth trying. If the presentation had been a little neater and had the two servings looked more alike, it would have gotten a solid four stars. $8
- Sushi Regular - 7 pieces of sushi are served with a California Roll and miso soup. The miso soup is on the sweeter side than what I usually get at other sushi places and it contained sliced mushrooms, green onions, tofu, and seaweed. The sushi included hamaichi, salmon, two types of tuna, and mackerel. All the fish was very fresh and the portions were quite large, but the fish tended to be quite wet - the excess moisture seemed to make the flavor of the fish slightly less intense and sweet - almost diluted. It's still good, but if you're accustomed to dry pieces or slightly denser texture, then you may find this isn't quite as authentic.
- Sushi Deluxe - 9 pieces of sushi are served with a rock n' roll and miso soup. The same varieties of fish that are in the Sushi Regular are included here also. The additional sushi was scallop and shrimp. We also received one bonus piece of fish as well.While a ten piece omakase is available, by the time we were seated, they had run out. Other offerings include udon noodles, tonkatsu,ramen, teriyaki and many rolls. Based upon the way the miso soup was served with additional ingredients (many Chinese people often comment on how miso soup doesn't have anything in it), and the way that they serve their dishes (larger portions versus high end presentation), it feels like Amami is catering to the Chinese audience.
Chef owner Alan is friendly and works quickly preparing nigiri and sashimi behind the sushi bar. Formerly with Sushi Raw in San Francisco, you can see how he has taken some of his roots with him in terms of how he generously serves fish portions. His younger brother makes most of the rolls. We noticed that Chef Alan frequently gives away extras - extra piece of fish here and there, especially as things run out - for example, there was no more ocean trout available for the party of three whom ordered it, so he asked them if they wanted to order something else and gave them a complimentary third piece of nigiri when they made their second choice. Uni also ran out this evening, and it was barely 8pm. A few things would make this restaurant even better. While it's high on value, Amami needs to work on cleanliness. I feel comfortable about the fish preparation because you just can't serve bad fish and manage to survive without any bashing. However, after waiting an hour in their waiting area and seeing the wrappers and toothpicks on the floor less than an hour into service, I can see that there is room for improvement. It was pretty apparent that the toothpicks had spilled some time ago as you could see some peeking out from under the host stand. When I was at the bar, I also noticed some chopstick wrappers that had been stuck between the refrigerator and edge of the bar. Last, but certainly not least are the curtains covering the kitchen opening - they're desperately in need of being washed. Just cleaning up these few items would really help people feel more comfortable with the cleanliness of the entire operations.
Overall, Amami offers a good variety of dishes, large portions for a reasonable price, and the quality is ok. However, if you're a traditional sushi enthusiast, it may not meet your standards.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Alana's Cafe - Breakfast/Brunch, Burlingame
1408 Burlingame Ave, Burlingame CA 94010
(650) 348-0417
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am - 3pm, Sat 8am-3pm, Sun 8am-2pm; Dinner Tues-Fri 5pm start
http://www.alanascafe.com/
Last Visited: July 28, 2013
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
During a walk through downtown Burlingame just after a Sunday lunch, I noticed a long line spilling out of a place with lots of energy - that was the first time I came across Alana's Cafe. So when a buddy said she wanted brunch, this seemed like a great spot to check out.
Alana's serves breakfast and lunch all day. Choices include Swedish pancakes, french toast, scrambles, quiche, and more. You'll also see a lingonberries on the menu (I thought that was only available at Ikea...). Enter the place and you'll see counter seating and tables with lots of hustle and bustle by the folks working in the open kitchen area behind the counter.
- Company's Coming - Sauteed homefries, tomatoes, scallions, mushroom, Italian sausage, cheddar, provolone cheese, and two poached eggs served with fruit and choice of scone, coffee cake, or toast. Today's scone choice was kiwi or hibiscus and the fruit was a slice of watermelon and slice of pineapple. The mix of flavors from the sweetness of the tomatoes and the spiciness of the sausage really add to the crisp homefries. I loved how the poached eggs were placed on top of the potatoes so that you could break them and let the yolks ooze over the mix of veggies and sausage. The fruit was fresh and while the hibiscus scone was hard, it had good flavor. I took most of the scone home since I was pretty stuffed and toasting it made the texture so much softer - I preferred it more when warmed. Portions in general are hearty. $11.75
The service was friendly. Note that you won't be able to be seated until your entire party is present, and if you're looking for a bargain, you can check in on yelp for 10% off . I did notice that the folks at the counter next to us put in their order at the same time, but didn't get food until much later - when it arrived, it didn't look like anything that wasn't already being made, so it seems that the kitchen's timing with orders could be improved slightly. Overall, it's a solid brunch place with a lot of charm.
(650) 348-0417
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am - 3pm, Sat 8am-3pm, Sun 8am-2pm; Dinner Tues-Fri 5pm start
http://www.alanascafe.com/
Last Visited: July 28, 2013
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
During a walk through downtown Burlingame just after a Sunday lunch, I noticed a long line spilling out of a place with lots of energy - that was the first time I came across Alana's Cafe. So when a buddy said she wanted brunch, this seemed like a great spot to check out.
Alana's serves breakfast and lunch all day. Choices include Swedish pancakes, french toast, scrambles, quiche, and more. You'll also see a lingonberries on the menu (I thought that was only available at Ikea...). Enter the place and you'll see counter seating and tables with lots of hustle and bustle by the folks working in the open kitchen area behind the counter.
- Company's Coming - Sauteed homefries, tomatoes, scallions, mushroom, Italian sausage, cheddar, provolone cheese, and two poached eggs served with fruit and choice of scone, coffee cake, or toast. Today's scone choice was kiwi or hibiscus and the fruit was a slice of watermelon and slice of pineapple. The mix of flavors from the sweetness of the tomatoes and the spiciness of the sausage really add to the crisp homefries. I loved how the poached eggs were placed on top of the potatoes so that you could break them and let the yolks ooze over the mix of veggies and sausage. The fruit was fresh and while the hibiscus scone was hard, it had good flavor. I took most of the scone home since I was pretty stuffed and toasting it made the texture so much softer - I preferred it more when warmed. Portions in general are hearty. $11.75The service was friendly. Note that you won't be able to be seated until your entire party is present, and if you're looking for a bargain, you can check in on yelp for 10% off . I did notice that the folks at the counter next to us put in their order at the same time, but didn't get food until much later - when it arrived, it didn't look like anything that wasn't already being made, so it seems that the kitchen's timing with orders could be improved slightly. Overall, it's a solid brunch place with a lot of charm.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Pizzeria Delfina - San Francisco
2406 California St, San Francisco CA 94115(415) 440-1189
Parking: street parking
http://pizzeriadelfina.com
Hours: Mon, Wed-Thu, Sun 11:30am-10pm; Tues 5pm-10pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm
Last Visited: July 13, 2013
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
After hearing about Pizzeria Delfina for years, I was excited to get a chance to try their delicious thin crust pizza and see if it lived up to they hype - it was great! We arrived for an early dinner and didn't find a line. A blackboard lists all of the regular pizzas and menu items available along with specials for pizza and antipasti - today's specials included pig ear in lime chili oil and for pizza, there was lamb sausage pizza. In the back of the restaurant, there is another menu board with desserts listed.
Breadsticks are served at each table along with a plate with little mounds of cheese, oregano, and chili peppers. It took a little while for the server to come back with our water, but she was pleasant.
- Napoletana Pizza + Cheese - The Napoletana comes with tomatoes, anchovies, capers, hot peppers, olives, oregano. Based upon the server's suggestions to add cheese, I went ahead and added mozzarella. I really enjoyed this pizza - the sauce tastes super fresh and the cheese balances the salty toppings which added a lot of flavor. Despite the moisture from the sauce, the super thin crust remains crisp even to the last piece of pizza. Note that you really do need to like salt or you may find this pizza a bit too salty and although minimal, you are also likely to see some burnt crust. $11.75 + $1.50 cheese
- Neapolitan Meatballs in Sugo - Three large meatballs are served with toasted bread in a little iron pan. The meatballs are tender and topped with lots of fresh tomato sauce and sprinkled with cheese. Just out of the kitchen, these are perfect and the bread soaks up the sauce nicely. Very enjoyable. $13.75I really liked the freshness of the tomato sauces and the well-balanced flavors. The pizza is hearty, yet delicate and the thin crust really holds up. Service seems like it could be improved though - after we were done eating, nobody came by for at least ten minutes to see if we wanted dessert or to remove the final plates from our table. I had to flag someone down for the check - considering that the restaurant wasn't quite full yet, this was a little disappointing. You should also know that they charge $1.50 per person for the San Francisco employer mandate (aka health care coverage for employees). Overall, great pizza and well-developed flavors. If you can save room, note that they make their own gelato too.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
El Zocalo - Mexican/El Salvadoran, South San Francisco
1633 El Camino Real, South San Francisco CA 94080
(650) 992-1482
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Last Visited:
Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: N/A - take out
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$
I stood at the counter at El Zocalo for a few minutes before someone came to take my order. While the place is fairly busy, it does seem strange that nobody acknowledged our arrival, especially when you see staff walking right past you. After ordering and coming back about ten minutes later to pick up our items, we still had to wait another ten minutes for the food to be ready - it's unclear why the kitchen was so slow.
- Pupusas $1.90 each
Revuelta Original - Pork and Cheese
Queso - Cheese
Between the two flavors that I tried, I prefered the queso. Even though it was only about five minutes from the time I received the pupusas to the time I ate them, they didn't seem to hold up particularly well. Both were pretty greasy. This photos shows two halves - the left is queso and the right is the pork and cheese.
- Curtido - Curtido is cabbage that has been lightly fermented with carrots, oregano, olive oil, and lime juice. Think of it as a slaw or light kimchi. Since I ordered take out, the curtido came in a plastic bag. I found it rather bland and missing the crunch that you often find with a good slaw. It wouldn't have been missed if it was absent.
While they might be slightly better eaten at the restaurant, these pupusas were just okay and the curtido wasn't memorable. I've definitely had better pupusas.
(650) 992-1482
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Last Visited:
Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: N/A - take out
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$
I stood at the counter at El Zocalo for a few minutes before someone came to take my order. While the place is fairly busy, it does seem strange that nobody acknowledged our arrival, especially when you see staff walking right past you. After ordering and coming back about ten minutes later to pick up our items, we still had to wait another ten minutes for the food to be ready - it's unclear why the kitchen was so slow.
- Pupusas $1.90 each
Revuelta Original - Pork and Cheese
Queso - Cheese
Between the two flavors that I tried, I prefered the queso. Even though it was only about five minutes from the time I received the pupusas to the time I ate them, they didn't seem to hold up particularly well. Both were pretty greasy. This photos shows two halves - the left is queso and the right is the pork and cheese.
- Curtido - Curtido is cabbage that has been lightly fermented with carrots, oregano, olive oil, and lime juice. Think of it as a slaw or light kimchi. Since I ordered take out, the curtido came in a plastic bag. I found it rather bland and missing the crunch that you often find with a good slaw. It wouldn't have been missed if it was absent. While they might be slightly better eaten at the restaurant, these pupusas were just okay and the curtido wasn't memorable. I've definitely had better pupusas.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Zero Zero - Pizza, San Francisco
826 Folsom St, San Francisco CA 94107
(415) 348-8800
Parking: street parking
http://zerozerosf.com
Hours: Mon-Thurs, Sun 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm
Last Visited: December 23, 2012
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$$ to $$$$
Fellow foodie, Yuwen, recommended Zero Zero heartily, and since a number of people I know have talked about it too with high praise, I have to admit, I had high expectations for Zero Zero. We arrived a little before their opening time, but because it was pouring rain, the hostess was kind enough to let us in before the official opening time and we sat at the bar with another early couple to dry off. It's an interesting setting with a bar when you enter, an open kitchen, and dining areas both upstairs and downstairs.
Zero Zero is well known for its pizza. On weekends, they offer brunch items like Tuna Genovese (somewhat like a nicoise salad), Duck with Pancetta, and Roman Style Dumplings.
- Fillmore - Hen of the woods mushrooms, leeks, mozzarella, parmesan, pecorino, fontina, garlic, thyme - The crispy crust had a little bit of burnt crust, but not too bad compared to some of the photos I had seen before. The mushrooms were flavorful and the blend of ingredients were very good together - not too strong and very cheesy. The crust stayed crispy through most of the meal, and since we ordered another dish, I had leftovers. Very enjoyable - the pizza carried the four stars for Zero Zero. $16.95
- Skillet Fried Chicken Thighs with Semolina Waffle - Chestnut honey butter, bacon, and maple syrup - The chicken thighs were good - you could tell that the batter was well-seasoned, but frankly, I think I prefer the chicken at some of the fast food restaurants more. I also liked the bacon, but wouldn't have minded it being a little more crispy. The waffles were really crisp and golden, and the honey butter tasted really good. The maple syrup was light and I wouldn't have minded having some more on the side. I would have given the chicken and bacon a 3 star rating and the waffles a 4 star rating. $12.75
- Soft Serve Caramel (Half) - The dessert menu is really enticing, offering a choice of ice cream, base (doughnuts, bread pudding, warm chocolate cake), toppings (caramel, candied coacoa nibs, hazelnut streusel), and specialty toppings (hot fudge, olive oil and sea salt, peppermint bark, bacon brittle, and more) offered separately so you can build just the perfect blend for your tastes. You can also get plated desserts. I was very excited to find out that they offered a half serving of soft serve (this isn't listed on the menu). Since Yuwen highly recommended the caramel as one of the best she has enjoyed, I couldn't walk away without ordering it. The soft serve is made with a Strauss Creamery base and definitely tastes smooth with the vanilla being ever so lovely in each bite. I found the caramel to be a bit grainy - I don't know if this is normal, but the texture tasted a little weird. Yuwen suggested asking for toppings on the side (you tend to get a tad more than if it's poured on for you). Gotta love the half serving. $3.50
San Francisco Surcharge here was $1 for two people. Overall, I thought the pizza was very good and had great flavor. There is room for improvement, but I was pretty happy with the experience. In 2013, it looks like prices have gone up by about $1 for the pizzas and the pizza ingredients have changed slightly (parmesan has switched out for grana padano).
While I enjoyed my meal, I had a bad experience when I left, which had nothing to do with the restaurant. My vehicle had its hubcaps stolen from it in broad daylight. My recommendation if you want to try this place is to park in a lot or to take public transit. The area didn't have any signs of people whom looked like they were lingering in the area, but I know I had the hubcaps when I got there and when I got back, they were gone and I was only a few blocks away.
(415) 348-8800
Parking: street parking
http://zerozerosf.com
Hours: Mon-Thurs, Sun 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm
Last Visited: December 23, 2012
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$$ to $$$$
Fellow foodie, Yuwen, recommended Zero Zero heartily, and since a number of people I know have talked about it too with high praise, I have to admit, I had high expectations for Zero Zero. We arrived a little before their opening time, but because it was pouring rain, the hostess was kind enough to let us in before the official opening time and we sat at the bar with another early couple to dry off. It's an interesting setting with a bar when you enter, an open kitchen, and dining areas both upstairs and downstairs.
Zero Zero is well known for its pizza. On weekends, they offer brunch items like Tuna Genovese (somewhat like a nicoise salad), Duck with Pancetta, and Roman Style Dumplings.
- Skillet Fried Chicken Thighs with Semolina Waffle - Chestnut honey butter, bacon, and maple syrup - The chicken thighs were good - you could tell that the batter was well-seasoned, but frankly, I think I prefer the chicken at some of the fast food restaurants more. I also liked the bacon, but wouldn't have minded it being a little more crispy. The waffles were really crisp and golden, and the honey butter tasted really good. The maple syrup was light and I wouldn't have minded having some more on the side. I would have given the chicken and bacon a 3 star rating and the waffles a 4 star rating. $12.75
- Soft Serve Caramel (Half) - The dessert menu is really enticing, offering a choice of ice cream, base (doughnuts, bread pudding, warm chocolate cake), toppings (caramel, candied coacoa nibs, hazelnut streusel), and specialty toppings (hot fudge, olive oil and sea salt, peppermint bark, bacon brittle, and more) offered separately so you can build just the perfect blend for your tastes. You can also get plated desserts. I was very excited to find out that they offered a half serving of soft serve (this isn't listed on the menu). Since Yuwen highly recommended the caramel as one of the best she has enjoyed, I couldn't walk away without ordering it. The soft serve is made with a Strauss Creamery base and definitely tastes smooth with the vanilla being ever so lovely in each bite. I found the caramel to be a bit grainy - I don't know if this is normal, but the texture tasted a little weird. Yuwen suggested asking for toppings on the side (you tend to get a tad more than if it's poured on for you). Gotta love the half serving. $3.50San Francisco Surcharge here was $1 for two people. Overall, I thought the pizza was very good and had great flavor. There is room for improvement, but I was pretty happy with the experience. In 2013, it looks like prices have gone up by about $1 for the pizzas and the pizza ingredients have changed slightly (parmesan has switched out for grana padano).
While I enjoyed my meal, I had a bad experience when I left, which had nothing to do with the restaurant. My vehicle had its hubcaps stolen from it in broad daylight. My recommendation if you want to try this place is to park in a lot or to take public transit. The area didn't have any signs of people whom looked like they were lingering in the area, but I know I had the hubcaps when I got there and when I got back, they were gone and I was only a few blocks away.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Decks - Seafood/Mediterranean, Tiberias, Israel
Gdud Barak Street, Tiberias, Israel9724-672-1538
Parking: in parking lothttp://www.tourwise.co.il/virtualTours/?tour=61_HE
Last Visited: May 2013
Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: unknown
Decks is located in Tiberias along the Sea of Galilee. Enjoy open air seating in a large space with beautiful views from its pier. From this location, you can also take an hour long cruise (not sure how that gets arranged, but you could probably ask them).
Our tour group came here for an enjoyable lunch featuring Peter's fish (red tilapia), available fried whole or grilled.
- Pita bread - Giant pieces of lightly seasoned warm pita was served with plates of smooth hummus that also contained whole garbanzo beans.
- Salad - Large leaves of lettuce are lightly dressed with a vinaigrette with chopped shallots. This was so simple, yet deliciously refreshing and of course, we had seconds.- A huge fried onion - Like the blooming onion you get at Outback Steakhouse in the US, this onion is cut into chunks and is shared amongst the table. These were terrific - much less the greasy than what you would find at the chain restaurants and well-seasoned.
- Fish - Lots of fresh lemon wedges came with fresh fried tilapia, lined up on a plate making for a perfect picture moment. The fish was beautifully golden, and fairly moist. This can be hard to eat for those whom aren't accustomed to it, but the oil was definitely fresh. We were also offered a grilled version with a dollop of pesto for those whom preferred it which was also very nice. - French Fries - That fresh oil was again featured by the lightly salted golden French fries.
After our meal, the owner sang a song for us from the stage area.
This is an especially popular place for tour groups and in the evenings, you can often hear more music coming from Decks as you drive by the area.
Service is friendly, although it's sometimes hard to get the servers' attention, especially when they're serving about 50 people at once.
If you enjoy Mediterranean food, you'll like Decks. The atmosphere is casual, as evidenced by the servers attire. Great food served family style in a gorgeous setting along the water - you can't go wrong.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Mokutanya - Japanese, Yakitori, Ramen, Burlingame
1155 California Dr, Burlingame(650) 348-9388
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
Hours: 11am - 2am daily
http://www.mokutanya.com
Last Visited: November 15, 2012
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
Winnie recommended Mokutanya for some good eats, but she also noted that the prices were a bit on the high side and I would agree on both counts.
From the outside, Mokutanya looks less than impressive. The very small strip mall allows room for parking, but easily hides what is inside. Even peeking into the window shows little indication of what's in the restaurant. Behind the counter and the tall display behind it are many little rooms divided by glass. You take off your shoes and sit on the floor, putting your feet into the well under the table, so while it may be a little awkward to get in and out, it's fun to enjoy this unique atmosphere. There is a sense of privacy with the low lighting (which also makes for these dim pictures) and ceiling-to-floor glass enclosures, but if you have kids next to you, you'll find them peering into your space.
The waitstaff is comprised of young ladies and their demeanor at the table is very gentle and patient. They were very good about explaining the menu and removing plates as they were empty, but one sometimes wonders at how efficient the kitchen is with runners because as soon as one plate came, another would come right after. Also, they have a tendency to chat when they aren't waiting tables which can be distracting when the restaurant isn't too busy. 
My camera didn't have a flash, but the photos give you an indication of the serving size. The skewers are about the length of a short fork. - Ika Sugata Yaki - grilled whole squid with yakitori sauce - While the flavor of the squid was good and the sauce was a nice balance, I found the meat to have an outer skin that made each bite really chewy. The meat itself was tender, but several times, I had trouble eating it because of a very thin layer of skin on it. $12
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus and - Bacon Wrapped Enoki Mushroom - Who can dislike bacon? Both skeweres were very tasty as the vegetables were moist and had soaked up the flavor of the bacon. The bacon itself was nice and crispy. $3 each- Wagyu Beef - 3 beef cubes - Tender and nice spices. $4
- Butabara - pork belly - Probably about as good as you would find at any yakitori place. $3
- Gyutan - Beef tongue - good texture and not overcooked. $4
- Lamb - Australian lamb leg with spices - good flavor, but a lot of the red meat starts to blend together and are less distinct from one another. $4- Chicken Thigh topped with fresh wasabi - The chicken is free-range and is super tender and juicy. The fresh wasabi is a nice touch and isn't at all overpowering. $3
- Miso Black cod - Good flavor and tender. I liked this better than the salmon. $5- Salmon - Okay. Bordering a little dry because of the thickness, but still okay. $4.50
- Tonkotsu Ramen - Pork bone broth with bean sprouts, sliced pork, shiitake mushroom, egg, and corn. A side of seaweed sheets also accompanies the ramen. This pictures shows a divided portion and the nice consistency and color of the boiled egg. The ramen wasn't the best I've had, but is pretty good amongst those in the Bay Area and is a good way to help you feel full. $7
Mokutanya is a great place for group dinners, after dinner snacks, or a date. Going to Mokutanya when you're hungry may not be the best idea unless you plan to get ramen; otherwise your bill may be a bit shocking. Two people can run a dinner bill of $70 to $100 without much effort. During happy hour, you'll find that they have a $1 oyster special and if you check-in on Yelp, you'll get a free drink. It's a fun place to check out at least once if you're in the area.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The Refuge - American, Sandwiches, San Carlos
Best: Pastrami
963 Laurel St, San Carlos CA 94070
(650) 598-9813
Parking: street parking
Hours: Tues-Thurs 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-9pm; Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm; Sat-Sun 12pm-10pm; Closed Sun-Mon (except for private parties)
http://refugesc.com/
Last Visited: May 3, 2013
Food: 3 to 4 stars (5 star pastrami)
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
Jay and Milly told me about The Refuge and their yummy pastrami. Unfortunately, the first time I tried to go, they were closed because it was a Sunday. Note that they are also closed on Mondays too.
Enter the dark restaurant and you'll see booths on one side and a bar on the other. Tables are set in between as well. The Refuge boasts 18 types of Belgian beer on tap as well as bottles. However, their claim to fame is their amazing pastrami. If that isn't enough to whet your appetite, they also have ribeye cheesesteaks and burgers too. Don't worry, if you're on a gluten-free diet, they also offer a pastrami chopped salad.
- Pastrami Reuben - Pastrami, sauerkraut, melted swiss, Russian dressing, toasted rye. When the menu says their ultra-tender pastrami is created in house, from the heart of the navel, served warm with pickles and pickled onions, it might give you high expectations, but indeed, The Refuge serves pastrami that really is ultra-tender. The pastrami sandwiches here are eye-catching and piled high with pastrami. It's not thinly sliced as you might find at other places, but hand-cut into thick pieces and mounded between toasted rye. While I've had better bread elsewhere, wow, I couldn't believe how it just melts in your mouth. Each bite really is ultra-tender and lives up to the menu description. If you aren't a big eater, this sandwich could easily be shared by two people. The toasted slices of bread could be crispier, but you won't be disappointed by the wonderful cured meat. I actually would give the food a higher rating if the bread had been toasted more. Four pickle spears are topped with pink pickled onion and served on the side. Just in case you don't like sauerkraut, you can also choose from pastrami with coleslaw or with swiss and mustard. Must try. $16
- Green Salad - shredded Romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, spring mix, pickled onions and tomatoes. While the menu says the dressing is a red wine vinaigrette, it looks more like a balsamic dressing when the flash isn't on. The little bowl is packed, so while it doens't look like a lot, it's a good quantity. You're better off getting a large plate to mix the vegetables better if you like your salad evenly dressed since there is really no room to turn it in its original container. Good and fresh. $4
- Garlic Fries served with hot chile mayo - The garlic fries are tasty - you definitely won't forget that you ordered them with garlic sauce. The hot chile mayo isn't too hot (or maybe the garlic made it less noticeable, but it pairs well with the fries). $6
Service would have gotten a higher rating if they had come to take our order sooner - we were sitting around waiting for quite a few minutes looking for someone to take my order even though there weren't many patrons present yet. Also, after the food had been delivered, nobody came around between that time and the end of the meal to check on us.
A couple of items to note: the Refuge is family friendly - there were a lot of little kids present. Be sure to get there early. Even though there is outdoor seating, the place fills up very quickly. It's a bit noisy, but has a fun feel. The Refuge serves up a delicious treat - you won't want to miss this pastrami experience.
963 Laurel St, San Carlos CA 94070
(650) 598-9813
Parking: street parking
Hours: Tues-Thurs 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-9pm; Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm; Sat-Sun 12pm-10pm; Closed Sun-Mon (except for private parties)
http://refugesc.com/
Last Visited: May 3, 2013
Food: 3 to 4 stars (5 star pastrami)
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
Jay and Milly told me about The Refuge and their yummy pastrami. Unfortunately, the first time I tried to go, they were closed because it was a Sunday. Note that they are also closed on Mondays too.
Enter the dark restaurant and you'll see booths on one side and a bar on the other. Tables are set in between as well. The Refuge boasts 18 types of Belgian beer on tap as well as bottles. However, their claim to fame is their amazing pastrami. If that isn't enough to whet your appetite, they also have ribeye cheesesteaks and burgers too. Don't worry, if you're on a gluten-free diet, they also offer a pastrami chopped salad.
- Pastrami Reuben - Pastrami, sauerkraut, melted swiss, Russian dressing, toasted rye. When the menu says their ultra-tender pastrami is created in house, from the heart of the navel, served warm with pickles and pickled onions, it might give you high expectations, but indeed, The Refuge serves pastrami that really is ultra-tender. The pastrami sandwiches here are eye-catching and piled high with pastrami. It's not thinly sliced as you might find at other places, but hand-cut into thick pieces and mounded between toasted rye. While I've had better bread elsewhere, wow, I couldn't believe how it just melts in your mouth. Each bite really is ultra-tender and lives up to the menu description. If you aren't a big eater, this sandwich could easily be shared by two people. The toasted slices of bread could be crispier, but you won't be disappointed by the wonderful cured meat. I actually would give the food a higher rating if the bread had been toasted more. Four pickle spears are topped with pink pickled onion and served on the side. Just in case you don't like sauerkraut, you can also choose from pastrami with coleslaw or with swiss and mustard. Must try. $16
- Green Salad - shredded Romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, spring mix, pickled onions and tomatoes. While the menu says the dressing is a red wine vinaigrette, it looks more like a balsamic dressing when the flash isn't on. The little bowl is packed, so while it doens't look like a lot, it's a good quantity. You're better off getting a large plate to mix the vegetables better if you like your salad evenly dressed since there is really no room to turn it in its original container. Good and fresh. $4
- Garlic Fries served with hot chile mayo - The garlic fries are tasty - you definitely won't forget that you ordered them with garlic sauce. The hot chile mayo isn't too hot (or maybe the garlic made it less noticeable, but it pairs well with the fries). $6Service would have gotten a higher rating if they had come to take our order sooner - we were sitting around waiting for quite a few minutes looking for someone to take my order even though there weren't many patrons present yet. Also, after the food had been delivered, nobody came around between that time and the end of the meal to check on us.
A couple of items to note: the Refuge is family friendly - there were a lot of little kids present. Be sure to get there early. Even though there is outdoor seating, the place fills up very quickly. It's a bit noisy, but has a fun feel. The Refuge serves up a delicious treat - you won't want to miss this pastrami experience.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Simmer Vietnamese Kitchen - Petaluma
299 North McDowell Blvd, Petaluma CA 94954(707) 762-4288
Parking: in shopping center
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$
Last Visited: April 27, 2013
Simmer opened up about three weeks ago, so word is just getting around Petaluma about this place. A couple of friends told us that it was worth trying, so of course, we had to go.
With Simmer, Pho Ngoc Tranh, and Thang Long, we now have three Vietnamese restaurants in Petaluma. Thang Long started it all, but as can be seen from the date of my review of them, I haven't been back in a while. Pho Ngoc Tranh, located in the OSH shopping center, opened up in 2012, and that seemed to be good for competition. Simmer is located in the same shopping center as Thang Long, albeit on the far side of the shopping center, but it's going to be interesting to see if Petaluma can sustain this many Vietnamese restaurants within a close distance of each other.
Walk into Simmer and notice that the space is very open. Once you get past the shelves holding Asian figurines, you'll see the rather large fish tank in the rear with beautiful brightly colored tropical fish. Just outside, along the window are lots of newly planted green bamboo plants; the colors of the restaurant are warm and inviting. The rather large head statue in the rear is a little unusual - it's about the height of a small toddler, but it still seems appropriate. What seemed slightly unfinished is the very bare side wall opposite of the windows. A large painting or series of paintings would spruce that up a bit.
We were greeted by one of the waitresses who seated us near the window. Their one page paper menu seems like a good way to help locals feel comfortable with the selection and less daunting than what you might find in the city. Pho, vermicelli noodles, fried rice, curry, stir fry, are typical items that you will find on the menu, and there's even a few kid's menu dishes available. The waitress was very friendly and happy to answer questions for those new to the menu. Ice water arrives in a tall glass with a thin slice of cucumber. Orders are taken by the waitress on an electronic device.
- Combination Pho - Individual plates of bean sprouts, sweet basil, sliced jalapenos, and a lime wedge arrived which was a nice way to cater to small town locals unaccustomed to the typical shared plate of garnishes/condiments. The piping hot soup broth in the bowls was delicate, but slightly salty on its own. Eaten with the other ingredients, the soup is more balanced and flavorful. Fresh slices of red and yellow onion accompanied floated in the bowl along with rice noodles, beef brisket, tendon, tripe, a meatball, and slices of rare eye round steak. It was nice that they had put the eye round steak on top, so most of it had not cooked through, giving the customer the option to eat it rare or plunge it into the broth further. I thought the quantity of meat and noodles were ample and matched the price charged for the bowl. I also appreciated that the noodles were not served in the bowl in a clump and had been loosened a bit (not always the case in the city). While it isn't the best quality of meat that I've had in pho, it was certainly acceptable. Good. Regular $8, Large $9.50While the food rating is good, you should consider that I only had one dish. As for service, the staff is friendly, but may have a tad too much commentary, though not unprofessional - I think the staff may still be feeling this out a bit. I noticed that they asked patrons where they were from and whether they worked nearby to get a sense of whom was coming in - this was fine - what is a little strange is to comment that our order of two bowls of the same pho dish is easy, good, and direct. Another oddity - it's weird to hear Biggie Smalls playing on the radio in the background - they may want to consider another channel to cater to a more diverse audience. Attention to detail seems to be the key - my friends told me that they had to request the dish of condiments when they ordered their pho, so that issue has been resolved, but things like no chopsticks in the silverware holder (it seemed that all tables except ours had chopsticks) and making sure that napkins are stocked (we had none at our table, although the server did bring them eventaully), would help improve the experience.
Overall, Simmer is a good find and I would be willing to go back. Pricing is higher than what you might expect to find for this dish in San Francisco, but reasonable compared to local competition. Amongst the three Vietnamese places in Petaluma, I would rank them first in the pho category and service.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Ongpin - Filipino, South San Francisco
73 Camaritas Ave, South San Francisco CA 94080
(650) 615-9788, (650)615-0622
Parking: small parking lot
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-9:30pm, Fri 11am - 10pm, Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 9am-9:30pm
http://www.ongpin.com
Last Visited: January 2013
Food: 3 to 4 stars (if no contaminant)
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$
After reading San Francisco Magazine's article, The Great Noodle Quest, I was surprised to see a dish featured at Ongpin because I drive by this place at least a couple of times a week. I am always looking for a local neighborhood restaurant that could become a regular go-to place.
I arrived at the restaurant and noticed that it was pretty simple in its decor. Despite it being only 5pm on a weeknight, there were already a number of tables eating their dinner and from the blank waitlist at the doorway, I expect that as the evening wore on, it would get even busier.
- In the article, Jonathan Kauffman describes the restaurant and their pancit miki-bihon as follows: "This restaurant has one of the largest selections of Filipino noodles in the Bay Area, among them siomai noodle soup and pancit palabok with shrimp sauce and crumbled pork rinds. But the stir-fried pancit miki-bihon is the one to order. A mound of skinny, wriggly rice noodles (bihon) twines around fat golden egg noodles (miki), with vegetables, chicken, and shrimp. The umami-bump of shrimp paste is discernible but not overpowering, and a squeeze of lemon gives the flavor a jolt."
- Pancit Miki-Bihon - I had never tried a mixture of egg noodles and rice noodles. Reading the description above, I was a bit concerned - it sounded like those concoctions from college dorm days when the cafeteria would mix leftover dishes together to get a messy looking combination of things that didn't belong together. Even though it was early, I had to wait about 15 minutes for my takeout order to be completed. When I opened the box of this dish which I had ordered to go, I was happily surprised to see udon sized egg noodles (as opposed to thin egg noodles) mixed with small rice noodles. Two wedges of fresh lemon added great acidity and balance to the rich flavors. The egg noodles added good texture that contrasted with the sliced carrots, celery, cabbage, scallions, and rice noodles. The shrimp was succulent, not mushy, and the chicken (dark meat) was tender. Unfortunately, after I had dished out two servings, I noticed a hair in my food. I called Ongpin to let them know and they offered to make me a new one if I brought it back, but by then, my appetite was suppressed and I didn't want to drive all the way over just to get a replacement. $8.95
The flavor is good and had it not been the hair, I would visit Ongpin again, but this experience was just too disappointing for a first impression and alas, not a go-to place for me.
(650) 615-9788, (650)615-0622
Parking: small parking lot
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-9:30pm, Fri 11am - 10pm, Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 9am-9:30pm
http://www.ongpin.com
Last Visited: January 2013
Food: 3 to 4 stars (if no contaminant)
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$
After reading San Francisco Magazine's article, The Great Noodle Quest, I was surprised to see a dish featured at Ongpin because I drive by this place at least a couple of times a week. I am always looking for a local neighborhood restaurant that could become a regular go-to place.
I arrived at the restaurant and noticed that it was pretty simple in its decor. Despite it being only 5pm on a weeknight, there were already a number of tables eating their dinner and from the blank waitlist at the doorway, I expect that as the evening wore on, it would get even busier.
- In the article, Jonathan Kauffman describes the restaurant and their pancit miki-bihon as follows: "This restaurant has one of the largest selections of Filipino noodles in the Bay Area, among them siomai noodle soup and pancit palabok with shrimp sauce and crumbled pork rinds. But the stir-fried pancit miki-bihon is the one to order. A mound of skinny, wriggly rice noodles (bihon) twines around fat golden egg noodles (miki), with vegetables, chicken, and shrimp. The umami-bump of shrimp paste is discernible but not overpowering, and a squeeze of lemon gives the flavor a jolt."
- Pancit Miki-Bihon - I had never tried a mixture of egg noodles and rice noodles. Reading the description above, I was a bit concerned - it sounded like those concoctions from college dorm days when the cafeteria would mix leftover dishes together to get a messy looking combination of things that didn't belong together. Even though it was early, I had to wait about 15 minutes for my takeout order to be completed. When I opened the box of this dish which I had ordered to go, I was happily surprised to see udon sized egg noodles (as opposed to thin egg noodles) mixed with small rice noodles. Two wedges of fresh lemon added great acidity and balance to the rich flavors. The egg noodles added good texture that contrasted with the sliced carrots, celery, cabbage, scallions, and rice noodles. The shrimp was succulent, not mushy, and the chicken (dark meat) was tender. Unfortunately, after I had dished out two servings, I noticed a hair in my food. I called Ongpin to let them know and they offered to make me a new one if I brought it back, but by then, my appetite was suppressed and I didn't want to drive all the way over just to get a replacement. $8.95The flavor is good and had it not been the hair, I would visit Ongpin again, but this experience was just too disappointing for a first impression and alas, not a go-to place for me.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Aperitif - Things that Don't Belong
It's sad to be writing this post, but alas, I have encountered a recent increase in contaminants. Here is a run down of past and recent encounters (look for these under the label 'yikes') - a continuation of Foreign Objects in My Food:
Restaurant Peony, Oakland - Visited: 2001
- Clothespin in the Seafood Soup - dine in, found by the waiter as he served the soup
- How they handled it: The server took the clothespin out of the soup with his hand and placed it on the plate holding the serving bowl. Served the soup as though nothing happened. Horrible!
Silver Dragon, Oakland - Visited: 2004
- Bug in the shrimp appetizer - dine in
- Didn't notify them because it was a wedding banquet
John Ash, Santa Rosa - Visited: 2006
- Live Worm in the salad under a pork chop - dine in
- How they handled it: No apology. Busser whom we told about the problem brought the manager more than ten minutes later who started by saying 'heard you had a visitor' and told us the salad was organic and twice-washed. The waiter offered to give us free dessert which we declined. Did not remove anything from the bill. Horrible!
Zuzu, Napa - Visited: 2006
- Hair in the artichoke and mushroom salad - dine in
- How they handled it: Apologized and offered a replacement. When we declined, they took it off the bill. No further mention of it throughout the meal. Server and hostess saw us as we left, but had no goodbye greeting or further apology. Lack of customer service. Horrible!
Morimoto Napa - Visited: 2011
- Hair found in the Nigiri Sushi - dine in
- How they handled it: Server took the food away and apologized. Came back with a replacement nigiri. Did not remove anything from the bill and told us he hoped we had a nice meal at the end of the meal with no mention of the hair again. Talked to the manager as we left the restaurant and expressed disappointment that nothing was removed from the bill. Lack of customer service. Horrible!
Wild Fox, Novato - Visited: 2011
- Dead Bug in my salad - dine in
- Didn't notify them because it was a birthday celebration
Hung's Kitchen - Visited: January 2013
- Hair in the Braised Pork Rib Stew - dine in, found halfway through the dish
- How they handled it: Asked if we wanted to still eat the dish. Took off half of the cost of the item on the bill since we had eaten half. Okay, if the first comment had not been made. Room for improvement.
Ongpin, South San Francisco - Visited: January 2013
- Hair in the Pancit Miki-Bihon - take out
- How they handled it: Apologized. Offered to provide a replacement if I brought the dish back to their restaurant.
Cooking Papa, San Mateo - Visited: April 2013
- Hair in the Braised Tofu with Vegetables, dine in, found midway through the dish
- How they handled it: Apologized. Asked if we wanted a replacement and when we declined, they took it off the bill. They handled it okay.
Chang Puak, South San Francisco - Visited: April 2013
- Hair in the Beef Tendon Stew - dine in, found before I took a bite
- How they handled it: Apologized when it happened. Made a replacement and took the item off my bill and apologized again after. They handled it very well.
Restaurant Peony, Oakland - Visited: 2001
- Clothespin in the Seafood Soup - dine in, found by the waiter as he served the soup
- How they handled it: The server took the clothespin out of the soup with his hand and placed it on the plate holding the serving bowl. Served the soup as though nothing happened. Horrible!
Silver Dragon, Oakland - Visited: 2004
- Bug in the shrimp appetizer - dine in
- Didn't notify them because it was a wedding banquet
John Ash, Santa Rosa - Visited: 2006
- Live Worm in the salad under a pork chop - dine in
- How they handled it: No apology. Busser whom we told about the problem brought the manager more than ten minutes later who started by saying 'heard you had a visitor' and told us the salad was organic and twice-washed. The waiter offered to give us free dessert which we declined. Did not remove anything from the bill. Horrible!
Zuzu, Napa - Visited: 2006
- Hair in the artichoke and mushroom salad - dine in
- How they handled it: Apologized and offered a replacement. When we declined, they took it off the bill. No further mention of it throughout the meal. Server and hostess saw us as we left, but had no goodbye greeting or further apology. Lack of customer service. Horrible!
Morimoto Napa - Visited: 2011
- Hair found in the Nigiri Sushi - dine in
- How they handled it: Server took the food away and apologized. Came back with a replacement nigiri. Did not remove anything from the bill and told us he hoped we had a nice meal at the end of the meal with no mention of the hair again. Talked to the manager as we left the restaurant and expressed disappointment that nothing was removed from the bill. Lack of customer service. Horrible!
Wild Fox, Novato - Visited: 2011
- Dead Bug in my salad - dine in
- Didn't notify them because it was a birthday celebration
Hung's Kitchen - Visited: January 2013
- Hair in the Braised Pork Rib Stew - dine in, found halfway through the dish
- How they handled it: Asked if we wanted to still eat the dish. Took off half of the cost of the item on the bill since we had eaten half. Okay, if the first comment had not been made. Room for improvement.
Ongpin, South San Francisco - Visited: January 2013
- Hair in the Pancit Miki-Bihon - take out
- How they handled it: Apologized. Offered to provide a replacement if I brought the dish back to their restaurant.
Cooking Papa, San Mateo - Visited: April 2013
- Hair in the Braised Tofu with Vegetables, dine in, found midway through the dish
- How they handled it: Apologized. Asked if we wanted a replacement and when we declined, they took it off the bill. They handled it okay.
Chang Puak, South San Francisco - Visited: April 2013
- Hair in the Beef Tendon Stew - dine in, found before I took a bite
- How they handled it: Apologized when it happened. Made a replacement and took the item off my bill and apologized again after. They handled it very well.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Addendum - California, Yountville
6476 Washington Street, Yountville CA 94599
(707) 944-2487
Parking: parking lot
Hours: Thursdays - Saturdays 11am-2pm
http://www.adhocrestaurant.com/addendum/
Last Visited: March 30, 2013
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
Located behind Ad Hoc, on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, you can grab a lunch box or 'hunger relief to go' at Addendum. Behind the parking lot is the path to Addendum and the little house where you can order a lunch box, dessert, and Ad Hoc goods like t-shirts or fried chicken mix. I've heard of Ad Hoc's friend chicken for a number of year's now and this was a perfect way to enjoy it while sitting at picnic tables in Ad Hoc's garden of raised beds. It's a scenic and peaceful location.
All lunch orders are $16.50 and come with a piece of cornbread, baked beans, and potato salad. You get a photo holder that holds a piece of paper with your name on it and when your order is ready, Ad Hoc staff walks it from the kitchen in the main building to the garden area. Orders of four or more can be placed ahead via email.
- BBQ Pork Ribs - You can select pork ribs or pulled pork. I went for the ribs and got three bones. The sauce has a prominent chili powder flavor and the meat is tender. It wasn't the best pork ribs I have had, but it was acceptable. I would have liked there to be some bark on the ribs and for the meat near the bone to be more infused with flavor.
- Buttermilk Fried Chicken - Three pieces of fried chicken - a drumstick, a chicken breast, and a thigh are battered and fried. The skin is nice and crispy and sprinkled with some sea salt, but the color was a little darker than what I was expecting. The meat was very juicy - even the white meat. However, some of the chain restaurants offering fried chicken offer a slightly better product.
- Sides - The cornbread is moist and sweet. The baked beans are also on the sweet side and could be served hotter. The potato salad is a combination of purple and yukon gold fingerling potatoes coupled with caper berries and fresh herbs. I thought the potatoes were a little on the hard side. You can see that all of the ingrediences are of good quality, but I've had better potato salads.
Overall, if you happen to be in Yountville, it's a nice stop, but it doesn't make it on my list of food to drive for. There are definitely options in the Bay Area that offer better individual entrees. Service could be more friendly as the staff walks around and delivers your food - something definitely felt missing in terms of warmth of the servers - they're professional, but are much better during regular restaurant service.
(707) 944-2487
Parking: parking lot
Hours: Thursdays - Saturdays 11am-2pm
http://www.adhocrestaurant.com/addendum/
Last Visited: March 30, 2013
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
Located behind Ad Hoc, on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, you can grab a lunch box or 'hunger relief to go' at Addendum. Behind the parking lot is the path to Addendum and the little house where you can order a lunch box, dessert, and Ad Hoc goods like t-shirts or fried chicken mix. I've heard of Ad Hoc's friend chicken for a number of year's now and this was a perfect way to enjoy it while sitting at picnic tables in Ad Hoc's garden of raised beds. It's a scenic and peaceful location.
All lunch orders are $16.50 and come with a piece of cornbread, baked beans, and potato salad. You get a photo holder that holds a piece of paper with your name on it and when your order is ready, Ad Hoc staff walks it from the kitchen in the main building to the garden area. Orders of four or more can be placed ahead via email.
- BBQ Pork Ribs - You can select pork ribs or pulled pork. I went for the ribs and got three bones. The sauce has a prominent chili powder flavor and the meat is tender. It wasn't the best pork ribs I have had, but it was acceptable. I would have liked there to be some bark on the ribs and for the meat near the bone to be more infused with flavor. 
- Buttermilk Fried Chicken - Three pieces of fried chicken - a drumstick, a chicken breast, and a thigh are battered and fried. The skin is nice and crispy and sprinkled with some sea salt, but the color was a little darker than what I was expecting. The meat was very juicy - even the white meat. However, some of the chain restaurants offering fried chicken offer a slightly better product. 
- Sides - The cornbread is moist and sweet. The baked beans are also on the sweet side and could be served hotter. The potato salad is a combination of purple and yukon gold fingerling potatoes coupled with caper berries and fresh herbs. I thought the potatoes were a little on the hard side. You can see that all of the ingrediences are of good quality, but I've had better potato salads. Overall, if you happen to be in Yountville, it's a nice stop, but it doesn't make it on my list of food to drive for. There are definitely options in the Bay Area that offer better individual entrees. Service could be more friendly as the staff walks around and delivers your food - something definitely felt missing in terms of warmth of the servers - they're professional, but are much better during regular restaurant service.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Ristorante Buon Gusto - Italian, South San Francisco
224 Grand Ave, South San Francisco CA 94080
(650) 742-9777
Parking: street parking and pay parking lot next door
Hours: Mon-Fri Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm, Dinner 5pm - 9:30pm; Sat 5pm-10pm; Sun 4:30pm - 9:30pm
http://www.buongustorestaurant.com
Last Visited: November 1, 2012
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
The owners were raised in Sicily and opened the restaurant in 1988. Walk into the restaurant and it is a bit reminiscent of 1980s/1990s decor. The lighting is a bit dark and the full bar in the back looks well-stocked. We had a party of about ten for lunch during our visit, and we were seated in the nook area near the window.
The host/owner was very friendly and we had let him know ahead of time that we had a limited time to eat lunch. He was very accommodating, but service from his servers could have been improved by more attention to detail. Things seemed disorganized as the water and bread arrived before we ordered. I had ordered appetizers ahead of time and it seemed like the execution of the delivery of these and the coffee after dessert could have been better.
- Mozzarella Caprese - Large pieces of mozzarella are topped with a leaf of fresh basil and both are placed on top of a fresh slice of tomato. Olive oil, salt, and pepper top the salad. The tomato was pretty bland, but the basil was fresh. I wasn't particularly excited about this dish because it seems like it should only be offered seasonally when the tomatoes are ripe and flavorful. $8.50
- Fried Calamari - The calamari was breaded lightly and tasted good. Half order $8.50
- Pork Osso Bucco (special of the day) - All lunch entrees are served with a choice of soup or salad. I selected the salad and found the vegetables (lettuce, carrots, a cherry tomato, and a jarred pepper) to be fresh, but very overdressed. Most of my dining companions had a noticeable amount of dressing still on their plates even after finishing the vegetables. Thankfully, the osso bucco was delicious. The marrow was super tender and the tomato based sauce had really mingled with the meat well. The broccolini and carrot were fresh and the polenta with tomato sauce was a rich side dish. f you have the chance to try the osso bucco, definitely don't miss out on it. The portion is also quite generous for lunch. This was definitely a four star dish.
In general, I found that the plating could be a bit better. You can see that the salad dressing has dripped onto the side of the plate and the presentation of this and other dishes could be a bit cleaner. The food at Ristorante Buon Gusto is good, and greater attention to detail as well as serving more seasonal items could easily move their ratings up a star. Overall, it's a convenient location for decent Italian in South San Francisco.
(650) 742-9777
Parking: street parking and pay parking lot next door
Hours: Mon-Fri Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm, Dinner 5pm - 9:30pm; Sat 5pm-10pm; Sun 4:30pm - 9:30pm
http://www.buongustorestaurant.com
Last Visited: November 1, 2012
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
The owners were raised in Sicily and opened the restaurant in 1988. Walk into the restaurant and it is a bit reminiscent of 1980s/1990s decor. The lighting is a bit dark and the full bar in the back looks well-stocked. We had a party of about ten for lunch during our visit, and we were seated in the nook area near the window.
The host/owner was very friendly and we had let him know ahead of time that we had a limited time to eat lunch. He was very accommodating, but service from his servers could have been improved by more attention to detail. Things seemed disorganized as the water and bread arrived before we ordered. I had ordered appetizers ahead of time and it seemed like the execution of the delivery of these and the coffee after dessert could have been better.
- Mozzarella Caprese - Large pieces of mozzarella are topped with a leaf of fresh basil and both are placed on top of a fresh slice of tomato. Olive oil, salt, and pepper top the salad. The tomato was pretty bland, but the basil was fresh. I wasn't particularly excited about this dish because it seems like it should only be offered seasonally when the tomatoes are ripe and flavorful. $8.50 - Fried Calamari - The calamari was breaded lightly and tasted good. Half order $8.50
- Pork Osso Bucco (special of the day) - All lunch entrees are served with a choice of soup or salad. I selected the salad and found the vegetables (lettuce, carrots, a cherry tomato, and a jarred pepper) to be fresh, but very overdressed. Most of my dining companions had a noticeable amount of dressing still on their plates even after finishing the vegetables. Thankfully, the osso bucco was delicious. The marrow was super tender and the tomato based sauce had really mingled with the meat well. The broccolini and carrot were fresh and the polenta with tomato sauce was a rich side dish. f you have the chance to try the osso bucco, definitely don't miss out on it. The portion is also quite generous for lunch. This was definitely a four star dish.
In general, I found that the plating could be a bit better. You can see that the salad dressing has dripped onto the side of the plate and the presentation of this and other dishes could be a bit cleaner. The food at Ristorante Buon Gusto is good, and greater attention to detail as well as serving more seasonal items could easily move their ratings up a star. Overall, it's a convenient location for decent Italian in South San Francisco.
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